Sackcloth and ashes for National health spokesman after U2 cigar

National's associate health spokesman Jonathan Coleman admitted yesterday he made a mistake by sitting in British American Tobacco's corporate box and smoking at the U2 concert - and says he has lost his taste for cigars.

A non-smoker barring "a cigar less than once a year", Dr Coleman said he apologised and accepted it was wrong for a health spokesman to be seen smoking.

"I didn't even get to finish the thing anyway. It's a very occasional thing, and I can tell you I've lost the taste for cigars over this whole incident, that's for sure."

The former GP and first-term Northcote MP was last week promoted by new National leader John Key to become the party's broadcasting spokesman.

He retained his health role, and anti-smoking groups yesterday said that job was inconsistent with accepting a seat in BAT's corporate box.

"I saw U2 in 1984 when I was in the seventh form and I saw them in 1993," Dr Coleman said yesterday. "A guy I know at BAT rang up and said: 'We're going to have a box, do you want to come along?' I thought this will be fantastic, and in hindsight that was an error of judgment I've definitely learned from.

"I think in retrospect I would have made some very different decisions, and I won't be accepting any hospitality from BAT in the future."

National front-bench MP Simon Power was also a guest in the box. "I've never held a health portfolio, so that wasn't something I factored a lot of consideration into. Maybe I should have, but I didn't," said Mr Power, who did not smoke a cigar that night.

The Sunday Star Times reported yesterday that Dr Coleman had been punched after he allegedly blew his cigar smoke at a woman. Dr Coleman said there were two sides to every story, but he did not intend to press charges over the incident.

"Dr Coleman was at a recent function at Parliament that highlighted the harms caused by using misleading descriptors such as light and mild on tobacco packets," he said. "I'm also amazed a GP who has seen the ravages of tobacco-related illnesses would smoke and subject others to his second-hand smoke. It calls into question his understanding of tobacco control and his judgment."

Mr Key said he accepted Dr Coleman had learned a lesson. "He is a new MP, still learning to live his life under a microscope. Let's keep this in perspective."